Adjustable fruit box lid



Dec. 4, 1934; H. w FOLEY ADJUSTABLE FRUIT BOX LID Filed Feb. 13, 1953 H. IMFOLINVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 4, 1934 UNITED STATES:

OFFICE. A

5 Claims.

This invention relates to lids for boxes in which fruit is shipped; my principal object being to provide a unitary lid which may be adjusted when being mounted on the box as to its 5 height from the top of the box without reversing the lid, while maintaining the same overall length of the lid in either position. By this arrangement the cover may be disposed on the box in proper relation to the depth of the pack, or so as to increase the ventilation if desired; and the same side of the lid is always up so that the label of the shipper or other identifying or other advertising matter on said one side of the lid will serve with both positions of the lid.

; A further object is to arrange the device so that the ends of the lid proper are always disposed between the box ends and the relatively heavy end cleats of the lid so that protection against the lid being accidently ripped off is afforded. Also, no tools or implements of any kind are necessary in adjusting the lid from one position or the other and the boxes themselves are not disturbed or altered in any way.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as aowill fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawing similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved lid as mounted on a box and shown as in its relatively low position.

Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the lid in its raised position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the lid at one end.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawing, the lid preferably comprises a single rectangular sheet 1 of strong and relatively rigid material but capable of bending, such as a suitable grade of fibre board or similar composition material. Square cleats 2 of suitable dimensions extend the full width of the lid at the ends and are permanently secured to the lid by staples 3 or other ways such as stitch- ;ai riveting and the like. The lid is bent up beyond the cleats to form flanges 4 engaging the adjacent faces of the cleats, and also rigidly secured thereby by staples or the like 5. The total length of the lid when the end portions are thus ,;bent up is the same as that of a standard fruit box 6 to which the lid is to be applied, while the width of the lid is of course the same as that of the box.

Before securing the cleats to the lid (which is done at the factory) said lid is transversely scored as at '7 toward its ends so that the scores will be immediately adjacent the edges of the opposed cleats nearest each other. This scoring is to permit downward bending of the lid without fracturing along the lines of bending. By reason of this construction it will be seen that the lid may be disposed on the box so as to be level with the lower edges of the cleats and hence level with the top of the box, as shown in Fig. 1. On the other hand, the lid may be bent downwardly along the scores so as to turn the cleats down and thus raise the lid relative to the box a height corresponding to that of the cleats, as shown in Fig. 2. In this latter position the top surfaces of the cleats are on a level with the top of the lid so that said cleats take the weight of a superim posed box and prevent any strain being thrown on the relatively thin lid which would tend to break it down.

In either case portions of the lid are clamped between the cleats and the box ends, and the same surface of the lid is always on top so that said surface may have the shippers label or other advertising matter pasted or impressed thereon before the lid is mounted on the box. It will also be seen that regardless of whether the cleats are level with and above the lid or are turned down, the overall length of the lid is the same as is plainly illustrated in Fig. 3.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein. I

' While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device. still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An adjustable fruit box lid comprising a lid member, cleats secured on and extending across said member at its ends, said member being scored transversely immediately adjacent the edges of the opposed cleats nearest each other to permit bending the end portions of said member through a are along the lines of scoring.

2. An adjustable fruit box lid comprising a lid member scored transversely adjacent its ends to permit downward bending of the lid, and cleats secured on the lid immediately beyond the scores; the lid beyond the cleats being bent to form 5 flanges abutting against and secured to the opposed faces of the cleats.

3. A lid as in claim 2, in which the cleats are square in cross section.

4. A box cover comprising a relatively flexible lid, cleats secured to the lid adjacent its ends and adapted to be turned on their longitudinal axes HARRY W. FOLEY. 

